Point-protector for pencils and the like.



J. T. JEFFRIES & E. E. HENRY.

POINT PROTECTOR FOR PENCILS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10. 1916.

1,199,555. Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

WITNESSES: l/VVE/VTOBS James TJeffr/es f ge /zef Hen/"q A TTOR/VEYUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES '1. JEFFBIES AND EUGENE E. HENRY, OF ASTORIA, OREGON.

POINT-PROTECTOR FOR PENCILS AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it m 03 concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES T. JEFFRIES and EUGENE E. HENRY, citizens ofthe l nited States, and residents of Astoria, (latsop county, Oregon,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Point-Protectors forPencils and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to devices used in connection with leadpencils, or other pointed articles for protecting the points thereof.

\Vhen pencils are carried in the pocket, the points are frequentlybroken and thereby cause much inconvenience. Furthermore, the lead ofpencils often discolors or otherwise soils the clothing with which itcomes in contact. Pointed articles of any type are dangerous whencarried in the pocket.

One of the main objects of our invention is to provide a point protectorwhich may be conveniently used with a pencil or other pointed article,so as to protect the point, and eliminate the objectionable featurespreviously mentioned.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation showing thepointed end of a pencil with our point protector used in connectiontherewith. This view is enlarged, and the full lines show the device inposition for allowing the pencil to be used, while the broken linesindicate the position of the device after it has been moved forward soas to protect the point; Fig. 2 is a left-end elevation of Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showin another type of construction;Fig. 4 is a Ieft-end elevation of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectiontaken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is an elevation showing stillanother alternate type of construction.

In these drawings, a pencil, a, of any standard make is provided with apointed cone-shaped end 6 and lead oint 0.

Referring first to Fig. 1, d is an open-ended cylindrical body, theouter end of which is contracted so as to form a cone-shaped portion 6,adapted to fit over and form a seat for the cone-end b of the pencil; atthe same time permitting the point a of the pencil to project beyond topermit its use for writing. f is an annular rib extendingcircumferentially around the cylindrical body d in the position shown.The inner end of the body d is provided with a rolled double thread 9and an annular rib k. Said inner Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed January 10, 1916. Serial No. 71,833.

end is further provided with longitudinal slots z located diametricallyopposite each other, and which allow for the expansion of this end ofthe body. A ring j encircles the body (I, having a sliding fit thereon,and is confined between the ribs f,h.

In actual use, the general operation of this device is as follows: Thering 7' is first moved to a position adjacent the rib f, so that whenthe device is placed on the pencil, a, the inner end of the body (Z willexpand, due to the root diameter of the inwardly rolled threads ridingon the body of the enciL- When the device has been moved to t e extremeposition as shown in full lines in Fig. .1, the ring j is moved towardthe inner end of the body d, whereupon it Wlll bear down on the expandedend of the latter and force the inwardly rolled thread 7 into the bodyof the pencil, thereby clam mg the device firmly in place. When t eprotector is in this position it allows free use of the pencil.

When the pencil is not in active use, the point 0 may be protected bymerely twisting the device to the left, which movement causes thethreads to project the device to the position shown in the broken linesin F 1g. 1. .In this position the point 0 will be entirely within theconed end 6 of the device and will be safely protected until such timeas it is again to be used. a

In Fig. 3, is is an open-ended cylindrical body similar to the body d,except that the contracted end e is omitted, and the rib f is replacedby a lug m. The inner end of the body is provided with 'a thread a, rib0, slots p and ring Z, which are identical with the corresponding partsshown in Fig. 1. A cylindrical body 9, relatively telescopical over thebody is, is provided with an annular rib 1', a slot 8, adapted toreceive the lug m, and a contracted expansible forward end t, whichconsists of normally converging resilient fingers u.

In operation, the device is placed on the pencil and clamped in positionin the same manner as shown in Fig. 1. The advantage of thisconstruction, over that shown in Fig. 1, lies in the fact that when thepencil is to be resharpened it is not necessary to remove the devicefrom the pencil. In this case the body g is merely telescoped back onthe body k, whereu on the resilient fingers u will ride over the body ofthe pencil and allow the entire end of the latter to be projected. Inthis view, the parts are shown in position for protecting the point 0,and when the pencil is to be used, the body is is merely twisted to theright, which causes the pencil and the device to be relatively moved soas to project the point a only.

In Fig. 6 we have shown another modified and simpler construction, whichconsists of a cylindrical body '1), provided with a contracted cone-endw, the end of which is open so as to allow the point of the pencil to beprojected therethrough. The inner end of the body 12 is provided with anannular rib m, and a rolled thread In this construction, the slots areomitted, thereby making the inner end non-expansible, and when usingthis type of device it is threaded entirely upon the pencil, instead ofallowing the same to be first placed in position and then clamped, asshown in the other views.

We claim:

1. A point protector comprising an openended cylindrical body providedwith a tapered outer end, an expansible threaded inner end, the threadsof which are rolled inwardly, and means for contracting the expansibleend.

2. A point protector comprising an openended cylindrical body providedwith a tapered outer end, an expansible threaded inner end, the threadsof which are rolled in wardly, and a ring longitudinally movable on thebody.

3. A point rotector comprising an openended cylindrical body, a sleevetelescopical on said body and provided with a tapered outer end, saidtapered end beingv formed of resilient, converging members, means forlimiting the movement of the sleeve on the body, an expansible threadedinner end on said cylindrical body, the threads of which are rolledinwardly, and means for contracting the expansible end.

4. A point rotecto'r comprising an openended cylindrical body, a sleevetelescopical on said body and provided with a tapered outer end, saidtapered end being formed of resilient, converging members, means forlimiting the movement of the sleeve on the body, an expansible, threadedinner end on said cylindrical body, the threads of which are rolledinwardly, a ring longitudinally movable on the body, and means forlimiting the movement of such ring.

5. A point protector comprising an openended cylindrical body providedwith a threaded inner end the threads of which are rolled inwardly, asleeve telescopical on the outer end of said body and provided with atapered outer end, said tapered end being formed of resilient,converging members and means for limiting the movement of the sleeve onthe body.

JAMES T. JEFFRIES. EUGENE E. HENRY.

